Fairmount Park goers paddle the recently added rental swan boats at Lake Evans, with a second boat visible in the background. (Marc Goldstein) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Monday Gazette: June 1, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Monday! Tomorrow is Election Day. If you're planning to vote in person or drop your ballot at a vote center, we put together a guide with everything you need to know before you go. Consider this your refresher: 2026 Election Guide.
HR policy hearings, a Linden Street lane reconfiguration, Downtown Experiment's permit fight, a charter school proposal, and an ethics board workshop headline this week's public meetings.
Welcome to our weekly digest of public meetings and agenda items worth your attention for this coming week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about.
The Transportation Board meets on Wednesday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. (agenda) to discuss a proposed restripping project on Linden Street that would change lane configurations, potenitally impacting traffic flow and parking for nearby residents and commuters (item 6).
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission meets on Thursday, June 4, at 9 a.m. (agenda) to consider the city's withdrawal of its own request to revoke operating permits for Downtown Experiment at 3601 University Avenue (item 2), and considering a permit for Vista Norte Public Charter, a proposed public charter school serving up to 450 students ages 14-23 at a site zoned for single-family homes on Casa Blanca Street (item 3).
Board of Ethics
The Board of Ethics meets on Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. (agenda) to hold a workshop on the ethics rule restricting officials from advocating for private outside interests (item 2), while also considering proposed City Charter amendments related to ethics governance that could eventually go before voters (item 5).
The Mission Inn Artifacts Dispute Is More Complicated Than It Looks
The removal of artifacts from the Mission Inn sheds light on a shared blame situation that is anything but clear and will take time to sort out.
"California Alps," William Keith's 1874 oil on canvas of the Sierra Nevada, rests on the floor of the Mission Inn lobby as caution cones surround it, leaving the wall above bare where it had hung for generations. (James Ranger)
Two paintings pulled from the Mission Inn on May 20 have triggered competing legal claims with no resolution in sight.
Why it matters: The dispute could affect not just the two removed paintings but dozens of other items from a 1992 curatorial inventory — including Tiffany stained glass, the Rayas Altar, and the Agua Mansa Bell — whose current locations are unaccounted for.
The backstory: A three-party agreement negotiated at the Inn's 1992 sale was meant to protect significant artifacts. But principals disagree on what it actually covered.
Redevelopment Agency negotiator Ralph Megna, who drafted the agreement, says the restrictions are durable. Others involved say moveable objects were deliberately excluded and never formally addressed.
Three legal questions remain:
Did the Inn's 1977 National Historic Landmark designation permanently bind moveable objects to the property?
Did the 1992 agreement cover moveable items — or were they explicitly deferred?
Does the current purchase agreement include an exclusionary clause that would affect the paintings?
Yes, but: Outgoing owner Kelly Roberts' attorney called the removals lawful and threatened legal action against anyone making "false and defamatory" claims about the transaction.
What's next: New owners Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation say they plan to partner with the Mission Inn Foundation "to preserve the artwork and artifacts." Former Foundation president Mike Marlatt offered a more sober forecast: "The notion that that painting is going to be back up on the wall in a couple weeks is completely naive."
The City has packed this summer with free events, activities, and programs for families of all ages across Riverside.
Residents enjoy summer activities across Riverside, including swim lessons, outdoor gatherings, sailing on Fairmount Park lake and a round of golf. (Courtesy of the City of Riverside)
Graduations, promotions, vacation planning, swimming lessons…all signs that summer has arrived and with it, a host of activities to make the next few months fun and interesting in Riverside.
With longer days and kids out of school, the City has planned all sorts of summer fun accessible to everyone and every taste.
Our beloved Concerts in the Park series returns to Fairmount Park every Wednesday evening from June 24 through July 29. These free community concerts bring live music, a beer garden, food vendors, and family-friendly fun to one of Riverside's most iconic gathering spaces.
Fairmount Park also offers unique summer experiences like the Riverside Community Sailing Program and swan pedal boat rentals on the lake. You can also enjoy an affordable round of golf at the golf course, one of the few public courses available in Riverside. Our historic Fairmount continues to be one of the best places in the city to enjoy the outdoors in a beautiful setting.
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